Gloves and hand protection

Providing protection that guards the hands is necessary under the OSHA PPE Standard 1910.138. This regulation requires employers to provide protection for employees who may be exposed to hazards that include skin absorption or harmful substances and chemical bums. OSHA lists four broad categories of protective gloves  

Chemically resistant gloves are made from rubber (latex, nitrile, or butyl) or a synthetic composition such as neoprene. Frequently used gloves are  

Butyl Rubber Gloves—Provide protection from nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, red fuming nitric acid, rocket fuels, and peroxide. These gloves have a high impermeability to gases, chemicals, and water vapor, and resistance to oxidation and ozone attack. They have high abrasion resistance and remain flexible at low temperatures. 

NitrHe Rubber Gloves —Provide protection from chlorinated solvents (trichloroethylene, per-chloroethylene, etc.). They are intended for jobs requiring dexterity and sensitivity, yet they stand up under mechanical use even after prolonged exposure to substances that cause other glove materials to deteriorate. They also resist abrasion, puncturing, snagging, and tearing. 

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Commoner, L. (1984). Personal protective equipment for conservators gloves and hand protection. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 23(2), 153-158. 

For the above scales, eye protection should be worn and work should be undertaken in a standard fume-cupboard behind a well-anchored polycarbonate screen. It is advisable to wear a protective apron and hand protection whether leather gauntlets or tongs should be used will be dictated by circumstances. Such measures are recommended but it should be ensured that they do not precipitate a hazard as a result of loss of tactile sensitivity (e.g. dropping a flask, overtightening clamps, exerting excessive pressure when assembling apparatus). The material of gloves needs consideration. (PVC but not rubber is suitable for tert-butyl peroxide.)... 

Laboratory coats or gowns and gloves are worn to prevent contamination or soiling of street clothing and hands. Protective clothing must be removed and left in the laboratory before leaving if contaminated, it must be decontaminated and cleaned or, if necessary, destroyed. 

Two additional safety measures have been considered in all three bowties, influencing the contact with electricity. These are a) Personal Protective Equipment for prevention from electrocution, such as rubber insulating gloves, insulated footwear and nonconductive equipment for face, neck and chin b) Personal Protective Equipment for prevention from arc such as flash suits, face protection shields, hand protection gloves and foot protection shoes, and c) procedures, in case of vehicle contact with electrical wires. This last measure, which is applied in cases where vehicles operate near overhead hues, includes safety procedures which should be followed in such working situations, described in more detail by Damen and Aneziris (2008). 

Special precautions. Care must be taken when making the buffer due to salts involved being irritant to the skin and eyes. Avoid inhalation and skin contact with proteins. Gloves and eye protection must be worn. Note that the CH-Sepharose 4B is prepared by activation with CNBr, which is highly toxic, and in our hands loading yields of enzyme onto this support decrease significantly 15 min after sweUing due to hydrolysis. 

Four of the 15 operators had exceptional exposure compared to the other 11 which reveals improper use of protective gloves and/or handling contaminated surfaces with bare hands. The same four operators had high exposure on other areas and much lower safety factors which shows a clear link between poor work habits and higher exposure. The pattern of exposure confirms that direct contact with spray mixture on contaminated surfaces is the main route of exposure when using product in water-soluble bags. 

After patient contact, remove gown, leg and shoe coverings, and gloves in a designated decontamination area. Hands should be washed prior to removal of respiratory and eye protection (i.e., mask/respirator, face shield, and goggles) to minimize potential exposure of mucous membranes. Wash hands again after removal of facial PPE. 

Triethoxysilane and especially trimethoxysilane are rather toxic compounds (they may cause blindness if allowed to get into contact with eyes) and therefore care must be taken in their handing. Both need to be manipulated very carefully with suitable gloves, eyes face protection, in a well ventilated fume-hood. However, both can be handled without problems via syringe techniques. 

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